Mohave County miner., 1887-06-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(vRox OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, May 23rd, 1887.


WASHINGTON, May 23rd. 1887.
This Is Washington's gala week. II
will be filed with martial music, soldiers,
visitors and events, brilliant pageants,
exciting competitive drills. reviews and
street parades. Probably never since the
final days Of the war, when the armies ol
the Potomac and Of the West marched
through the great thoroughfsre Of this
city, has there been 80 fine military dis.
play as is promised us during the present
week. ..... ...
The soldiers now encamped around the
base OF the Washington monument repre-.
sent thirty-one states, and they are the
flower Of the militia Of the country.
Many Of the organizations are noted for
their excellent discipline, and have won
trophies in state and interstate drill con-
tests. The same ground on which the
soldiers Of the war spread their tents and
camped has been assigned as quarters for
the visiting battalions and regiments, and
every appointment for convenience on
the field has been perfected, as we'll as
throughout the city for the care OF the
thousands Of visitors incidental to the oc-
casioii.
The drill opened to-day, but this was
the practical business day Of the meet
ing. The last arrivals OF troops were as
signed 10 their locations on the camp
ground, the camp was formally chnsten-
ed Camp George Washington" orders
were issued by Gen. Augur, the COM
mandant Of the camp, and at five O'Clock
there was formal opening Of the enter.
tainment by dress parade by all OF the
assembled troops. Tomorrow the CON-
petitiye drills commence.
The judges Of drill are all experienced
army officers. who have passed much
time at the leading institutions where the
manual Of arms was thought of first in
everything. The judges program has
not been made known, Of course. and no
military organization will be informed
what maneuvers it will be repaired to
perform until il enters the drill ground
for each contest. The highest prize offer
ed is %, 900, and that is 10 the best COM
pany Of infantry. .
i. takes quite good deal Of money to
run the dining room and kitchen erected
on the drill ground for this occasion.
The kitchen is capable OF preparing food
for four thousand persons at time, and
is fitted up with the largest range in the
city. The dining room seats twelve hun
dred men, allowing seventeen inches Of
room for each, and the caterer who pur.
chased this privilege says he can reset
the table every twenty-five minutes. The
amount of crockery Is very large, nearly
fifty thousand pieces. About nineteen
hundred Of the soldiers are attempting to
do their own cooking on account Of the
bad treatment they have received hereto
fore while attending other drills. The
caterer hopes. however, to win all OF them
over to his establishment by doing we'll
by the soldiers. He is under contract
with the Drill committee to charge his
military patrons only one dollar for three
meals. Others he can charge what he
plesses.
Wednesday, the 25th. and Monday, the
3oth, Decoration day will be the two
great days Of the camp in popular estima-
ton. Wednesday will be Governors day,
ON which the Governors OF different
states, with their stats, will surround the
President on grand stand in front Of the
White House and review the troops. On
decoration day the soldiers in camp will
Join the procession TO Arlington, the Ma
tional cemetery, and with the Grand
Army Of the Republic, take part in the
exercises Of the day. In the afternoon Of
the same day the prizes and trophies, the
flags and stands Of coIors, the medals and
cash premiums will be presented to the
successful competitors and then the camp
viii break up. The visitors will receive
their spoils, Of course, from the hands Of
the President.
The government Of this camp is regular
and rigid according to army regulations.
thus giving those who participate an idea
Of actual service, such as many Of them
never had. All commands are subject to
camp duty, regular inspection at quarters,
daily dress parade, and all rules, regula-
tons and orders that may be promulgated
BY the commandant Of the camp. All
commands entered are required too to re-
main during the full term Of the camp,
and are not permitted to quarter and
board outside of II.